THOMAS Boothman took the championship and reserve at Skipton mart's opening show and sale of ewes with lambs at foot.

It was the third year running that Mr Boothman of Linton Hall Farm, Linton, near Skipton, had won the Bank Holiday event. The champion pen of five Texel-cross ewes – all with twin Beltex lambs – sold for the day's top price of £255 per outfit to Neil Tattersall, Ellerton, York. He also bought the reserve champions for £245 per outfit.

Mr Boothman’s annual run of 81 Texel and Continental-cross shearlings and two-shear ewes, all home-bred with lambs born from February to March, won three of the four show classes. The majority were again by Beltex tups acquired from Skipton’s Chris Windle.

Mr Boothman’s two-shear ewes with twin lambs sold to a top of £235 per outfit to Jan Feather, Oxenhope, while his Mule shearling ewes and twin lambs hit a high of £175 per outfit on joining Gargrave’s Simon Spensley. A further consignment of correct Oxford ewes with twin lambs sold to a high of £195 per outfit.

Johnny Metcalfe, Linton, sold Texel-cross three-crop ewes with twin lambs to £200 per outfit, along with correct ewes with single lambs to £170. Richard Frankland, Rathmell, sold correct Mule ewes and twin lambs to £180. R Brewer, Cautley, Sedbergh, also achieved £175 with three-crop ewes with single lambs.

The total entry of 1,053, the largest of the season to date, comprised 382 ewes with 671 lambs at foot, which sold to a packed ringside of customers, though with grass still in short supply they were more cautious than of late.

Anything with strong lambs were best to sell – more commercial types were cheaper on the week by around £5–£8.

ENDS

Pic caption (choice of pics): Thomas Boothman, left, and helper William Wade, are pictured with the champion pen of ewes with lambs at foot.

Further info: Robin Moule, Moule Media, 01756-794027, mobile 07976-559961, e-mail: robin@moulemedia.com